Amid Turmoil of Impending Closures, Philadelphia Marks 'Catholic Schools Week'
By Mike DeNardo
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is marking "Catholic Schools Week," even as it plans to close dozens of schools.
Today, Mayor Michael Nutter stopped by Archdiocese headquarters to issue a proclamation declaring this Catholic Schools Week in Philadelphia.
The mayor says the city has an interest in a healthy Catholic schools system.
"We all care about our children," he tells KYW Newsradio. "We need to make sure they get a high quality education, wherever they go to school. And there's some tough decisions that need to be made."
Forty-eight schools in the Philadelphia archdiocese are recommended for closure (see related story). The archdiocese held an appeals process (another related story), which is now over. Archdiocese schools superintendent Mary Rochford says opponents should support the church instead of trying to keep individual schools open.
"To rally around, to fight a particular building that's not going to be used... People can do what they need to do, but it's not going to make any changes," she said.
Archbishop Charles Chaput is expected to render his decision on the closure recommendations in mid-February.
